Post-hole digger.



(No Model.)

' WITNESSES Patented July 3], I900.

J. L. GATES.

POST HOLE BIGGER.

(Application filed. May 9, 1900.)

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UNITED STATES JAMES LEEROY GATES, OF SENATOBIA, MISSISSIPPI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE I-IALF TO THOMAS R. BRAY, OF GURDON, ARKANSAS.

POST-HOLE DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 654,945, dated July 31, 1900.

Application filed May 9, 1900. Serial No. 16,041. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that'I, JAMES LEEROY GATES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Senatobia, in the county of Tate and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and Improved Post-Hole Digger, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved post-hole digger which is simple and durable in construction, very effective in operation, and arranged to permit convenient manipulation to quickly form a post-hole in the ground.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as

willbe fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement with parts in section. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the shank of the digger-blade. Fig. 4: is a transverse section of the improvement on the line l 4 in Fig. 2 with the handle removed, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation'of the lower end of the handle.

The improved post-hole digger is provided with a split cylindrical blade A, on the upper end of which is secured a shank B, made in two parts B B secured by rivets or bolts 0 to the said blade, as is plainly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. The parts B B of the shank extend toward each other to form a socket B for the reception of the lower end 0 of the handle 0, having its upper portion provided with a crank-arm O and a hand-rest C for conveniently manipulating the digger to work the blade A into the ground and make a hole in the usual manner.

A portion 0 of the handle O is formed with an annular bead Oflfitting into a corresponding annular recess B in the socket B and the extreme lower end of-said handle 0 is formed with a fork O fitting into correspond ingly shaped forked recesses B likewise formed in the socket B", as is plainly illus* trated in the drawings. The shank parts E B are fastened together at the socket B by bolts D, located below the recess 13, between the latter and the forked recesses B (See Fig. 4.

Now it will be seen that when the lower end 0 of the handle G is inserted in the socket B then the fork C engaging the forked recesses B prevents the handle 0 from turning in the socket, and the annular bead O fitting into the inner recess 13, holds the handle' 0 against longitudinal displacement in the socket, so that the handle and socket are securely and firmly connected with each other without danger of coming apart when using the device in digging a post-hole in the usual manner.

It will further be seen that bythe arrangement described the post-hole digger can be very cheaply manufactured and the several parts can be readily assembled without dan ger of the parts becoming separated, as above explained.

Having thus fully described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. A post-hole digger, comprising a diggerblade having a sectional shank formed with an inner annular recess and fork-recesses, a handle having a forked end for engagement with said fork-recesses, and an annular bead on the handle, for engagement with said annular recess, substantially as shown and described.

2. A post-hole digger, comprising a diggerblade having a sectional shank formed with an inner annular recess and fork-recesses, a handle having a forked end for engagement with' said fork-recesses, an annular bead on the handle, for engagement with said annular recess, and bolts for securing the sections of the said shank together at points below the said annular recess, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed "my name to this specification in the presenceflof two subscribing witnesses...

JAMES LEEROY GATES.

Witnesses:

A. A. ROYALL, J. H. WOMACK. 

